Matthew McConaughey Visits Uvalde, Texas To Comfort Families Affected By Mass Shooting

Actor Matthew McConaughey is visiting the families of the shooting that happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, just over one week ago.

An 18-year-old gunman walked into the school and killed 19 children and 2 adults. McConaughey, who hails from Uvalde, visited the families to provide comfort and support as he called for gun control.

As reported by PEOPLE, the Academy Award winner, 52, traveled to his hometown to meet with families affected by the shooting at the Uvalde Civic Center. During the visit, he met with parents who had lost children in the shooting.

The “Dazed and Confused” actor was not only born in Uvalde, but he reportedly lived there for most of his childhood. His mother, Kay McCabe, had been a teacher at St. Philip’s Episcopal School, only about a mile from where the shooting took place.

Rep. Tony Gonzales captured a photo of the event and posted it to his Twitter account last Friday.

Gonzales tweeted, “This week was a solemn reminder that evil exists in the world, but we will never let it break us. We’ll unite to be an even more powerful reminder that love never fails & together we can change things.”

He added, “Appreciate Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey helping us heal. #UvaldeUnited.”

McConaughey had also posted his own statement to Twitter shortly after news of the shooting first made headlines.

McConaughey began his post with, “Uvalde, Texas, USA” in the caption.

“As you all are aware there was another mass shooting today, this time in my home town of Uvalde Texas,” he began. “Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us.”

“The true call to action now is for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, ‘What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state, and neighborhood tomorrow?’ We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo.”

“As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, it’s time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs,” he went on. “We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children’s issue.”

“This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better,” he continued. “We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured.”

“And to those who dropped off their loved ones today not knowing it was goodbye, no words can comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming.”